The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has agreed to conduct a socio-economic survey of residents of Motilal Nagar in Goregaon following a protest over the ongoing redevelopment of the housing colony.
Residents staged a demonstration outside MHADA’s Bandra headquarters on Thursday, demanding 2,400 sq ft homes under the redevelopment project. A delegation subsequently met MHADA Vice-Chairman Sanjeev Jaiswal and Mumbai Board Chief Officer Milind Borikar to discuss their demands.
The socio-economic survey was accepted by Jaiswal, according to Motilal Nagar Development Committee secretary Nilesh Prabhu. However, the key demand for 2,400 sq ft homes was referred to the state government for a decision.
Under the redevelopment plan being implemented by the MHADA Mumbai Board following directions of the High Court, around 3,702 existing residents are proposed to receive homes with a carpet area of 1,600 sq ft. Residents, however, argue that they are entitled to larger homes and have demanded implementation of the project under Development Control Regulation 33(5).
Demand for Multiple Homes
The residents have also raised concerns about families sharing existing homes. MHADA had earlier agreed to provide two 800-sq-ft units instead of one 1,600-sq-ft apartment in cases involving multiple siblings or families.
However, the committee has sought three separate homes of around 550 sq ft each, arguing that two 800-sq-ft units may not adequately accommodate larger families. Jaiswal has reportedly responded positively to examining the demand, with a final decision expected after the socio-economic survey.
Residents May Approach High Court
MHADA has maintained that the proposed 1,600-sq-ft area is appropriate under the redevelopment framework, which is being implemented with an FSI of four. The authority has also stated that pro-rata benefits are not applicable because the plot exceeds 4,000 sq m.
According to MHADA’s affidavit, residents are being offered 1,600 sq ft against their original 236-sq-ft homes. Residents, however, have questioned how the additional 45 sq m of land they purchased from MHADA has been accounted for.
With no clear resolution on this issue, the residents are considering approaching the Bombay High Court, Prabhu said.
